“You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains,” bellowed out from under the blue and white Judea Harvest circus tent. A huge smile crept slowly across our faces as we looked at one another. We chime in with the two young South African men, “…to all that I can be…” I guess “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban is not only popular for weddings in the US, but is a hit Sunday morning worship song in rural S. Africa. Dare I say that Josh may even have some pretty stiff competition if these boys find their way into the music world!
After Josh Groban let loose at the service, the crowds’ eyes rested upon Scott, Linnea and I. As the pastor of the church put it, “just testify”. So, in order to testify, it means that we have to be “walkin the talk”…this is much more difficult than just “talkin the talk”! The message possibilities shrink into the realm of our own personal life experiences. Yikes! But the stories themselves expand beyond the story giver. They point to the Creator Himself – afterall, they are testimonies of His greatness and love for His creation.
Well, if you didn’t already notice, the Lord laid discipleship on our hearts. While none of us claim to be experts on this subject, we do claim to be ‘subjects’ of discipleship. Not only do we have the opportunity to testify orally, but it appears as though He is placing a pen (or maybe a keyboard) in our hands also. Scott, Linnea and I – along with some other world racers – are eagerly jumping aboard Seth Barnes’s vision for writing a book about the process of discipleship. (Please bath this ‘book writing process” in prayer!)
Abandon. According to Seth, is step one in a process called discipleship. As Linnea wrapped up our message in church this morning,
“It’s not about what we have abandoned from, or who/what we have left behind. It’s about what/who we are abandoning for…”
That made me think. Who or what captures my soul so strongly that I am literally ‘seduced’ out of my comfort zone? What/who is so irresistible that I am unable to imagine my life without it/him/her? That the idea of losing it/him/her is more unsettling than the risk that accompanies the pursuit?
Scott started to read Matt. 14:22-33: Peter walks on water. Would it be more believable if it was called “Peter flies through the sky”? Probably not, but if God wanted to test my faith in a similar fashion, I pray that He would give me the opportunity to fly! Growing up, when asked the question “If you could chose any superpower what would it be?” – I would always reply, “I would choose to fly”. Instead, maybe the service would have opened with “I believe I can Fly” by R. Kelly. Anyways…
This story continues to challenge me each time it pushes itself back into my life. Throughout 2005-06, some of my friends and I shared about “getting out of the boat” with hundreds of youth at various rallies around the US. I guess the bible doesn’t work that same way as chicken pox; where after your initial exposure, you are no longer affected by ‘the virus’.
The sting of this message bites me in the butt every time. It never grows dull. I guess a burning butt will get me off my seat and into the water! I already got out of the boat once, how many times do I have to “take that step”? What is my boat now? Why would I want to risk drowning or failure…again? What am I afraid of this time? Why am I still asking myself these same questions over and over?
Oh, the glorious stage of abandonment…
(Note – This is meant to be a very ‘open ended’ blog. Feel free to chime in. Please read
“Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat!” for more randomness on this topic.)
